Chicken fount



1,503,705 .w. H. PARKER CHICKEN FOUNT Filed May 2 1 I, x A 1 PatentedAug. 5, 1924.

IE Y

WILLIAM H. manna, or BROKEN BOW, NEBRASKA.

CHICKEN FOUNT.

Application filed May 2, 1923. Serial No. 636,230.

To all whom 2'2. may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. PARKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Broken Bow, in the county of Custer and State of Nebraska,have invented new and useful Improvements in Chicken Founts, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to chicken founts and particularly that class offount wherein the supply of water is automatically fed into the troughso that the supply of water is constant at all times.

An object of my invention is to provide a fount wherein a cylinder iseccentrically mounted with relation to the trough so that the dischargeopening of the same normally lies at the center of the trough, therebyallowing the water to flow into the same to the desired level.

Another object of my invention is that in mounting the cylindereccentrically, the same may be elevated from the water when not in use,without removing the cylinder from its supports.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide handles for thecylinder which contact with supporting brackets to limit the rotation ofthe cylinder thereby assuring the proper positioning of the dischargeopening with relation to the trough, and support ing the cylinder inoperative or inoperative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, forming part of thespecification-and wherein like characters refer to correspond ing partsthroughout the figures,

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of my invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective View of the cylinder with the cylinderpartially rotated to show the discharge opening;

Fig. 3 is an end view with the cylinder in normal position; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse central sectional view showing the cylinder inits elevated position as indicated by the dotted lines.

In these drawings, 1 is a flat trough pro vided' with an outwardlyflaring end and side walls forming in effect a tray. Rig-idly attachedto each end of the trough I provide brackets 2 comprising upwardlyconverging arms having a central depression 3 and inwardly bent portions4 secured to the outer side of the flaring side walls of the trough.

These brackets are adapted to carry a water containing cylinder 5 whichis pro vided at each end with trunnions 6 which are removably seatedwithin the central depressed portion of the brackets which fin-n1 6Hbearings for the same. These trunnions 6 are eccentrically carried bythe cylinder with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof. A dischargeopening 7 is formed in the cylinder by striking out from the body of thea? cylinder a portion 8 which is bent inwardly into the cylinder andpermits the water to fiow from the cylinder around both edges of thestruck-out portion and into the trough, it being understood, that thisopening is arranged so as to lie in vertical alignment with the trunnion6 when the device is in operative position.

I also provide the cylinder with outwardly extending handles 9 securedto the ends thereof and so disposed that they contact with theconverging arms of the bracket when the discharge opening reaches normalposition. Upon swinging the cylinder about its axis, the handles 9contact with the opposite bracket and maintain the opening in thecylinder directly above the trunnion 6 so that the same is positivelyheld in either operative or inoperative position.

From the foregoing, it is to be understood that the cylinder is firstswung so that the opening lies above the trunnions and is then filledwith water, whereupon the handles .9 are grasped and the cylinderrotated to its normal or operative position as illustrated in Fig. 3, atwhich time the water will flow therefrom into the trough until itreaches the lower edges of the opening, at which time the flow will beautomatically stopped, as the water in the trough is consumed, acorresponding flow from the cylinder will take place, therebymaintaining the level constant at all times. Du to the eccentricmounting of the cylinder, it can be readily seen that the same will bebodily lifted from the water in the trough as the same is swung to itsinoperative position. This has been found to be quite desirable since,after constant use, and where the cylinder is left standing in the waterfor some time, corrosion or rust takes place and due to the sometimesstagnant condition of the water, a scum forms on the exterior of thecylinder. Applicant produces means for preventing these objectionableoccurrences since the cylinder may be swung out of the water when it isfound that its use is not needed.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the handles 9 not onlyprovide convenient means for operating the cylinder, but also act asstops to limit the rotation of the cylinder, insuring proper positioningof the same at all times.

It is evident that a cheap, simple and durable construction is providedinvolving very few parts and so constructed that the same cannot beeasily injured or broken, and at the same time, a very desirable articleis produced. By providing the trough with outwardly flared end and sidewalls, it can be seen that there is sufficient space between thecylinder and these walls to permit access to the water, but there is notsufficient space to permit the fowl to stand or enter the trough. Thishas been one of the objectionable features heretofore and applicantsdevice produces a simpl solution of the problem.

It is to be understood that this device will not upset in use and may bemade of sheet metal which may be galvanized or not, and made of anysuit-able proportion or size as best suits needs and convenience, and itis to be further understood that modifications in minor details andfinish of the article may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a trough, bracketssecured to the trough and extending upwardly therefrom, and a watercontaining cylinder eccentrically mounted in the brackets for rotationwith respect to the trough, and having an inwardly directed portionforming oppositely disposed discharge openings to permit fluid to flowfrom the cylinder to the trough.

2. A device of the character described comprising a trough, bracketsrising from the trough and each comprising converging arms and acentraldepressed portion, a cylindrical water container provided with eccentrictrunnions supported in the depressed portions of the brackets, thecylinder having an inwardly bent portion intermediate its ends to permitwater to flow from the cylinder around both edges of the inwardly bentportion into the trough, and elements carried by the cylinder forengagement with the brackets to insure positioning the opening of thecylinder substantially over the longitudinal axis of the trough,

3. A device of the character described comprising a trough, bracketsincluding upwardly converging portions secured to the trough, a watercontaining cylinder eccentrically mounted in the tops of the bracketsfor rotation with respect to the trough and having an inwardly directedportion forming a discharge opening to permit water to flow from thecylinder into the'tro-ugh, and combined handles and stops for rotatingthe cylinder and disposed for engagement with the converging portions ofthe braclc ets to hold the cylinder in either operative or inoperativeposition.

4. 'A device of the character described comprising a trough providedwith outwardly flared end and side walls, brackets each comprisingconverging arms and a central depressed portion secured to each end ofthe trough, a cylinder provided with eccentric trunnions supportedwithin the said depressed portions of the brackets, the said cylinderbeing provided with a discharge opening formed by an inwardly bentportion of the cylinder to permit water to flow from the cylinder intothe trough, and combined handles and stops for rotating the cylinder andholding the same in either operative or inoperative position. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. PARKER.

